The 9 Best Shows at Fenway Park Ever
I’m sure we forgot your favorite, so don’t be negative. Be positive. Tell us why your show rocked!
The 9 Best Shows at Fenway Park Ever
C'mon, you thought they would NEVER get back together. And when a band waits this long, you hope it's not a let-down. Nope. The playing was stellar and they came in fighting shape. Not as many Rat/Kenmore Square-era songs as we'd like, but when you charge this much money, you gotta play the hits that put you in the stadium in the first place.
What if you built the stage facing the bleachers and called it "Bleacher Theater at Fenway Park?" You'd get a much more intimate experience including Jack White solo songs and White Stripes rockers. Nice!
If you've ever seen the Stones in any stadium, you know they do it bigger and better than almost anyone. This was no exception, using the entire field with a B Stage near home plate. And if you've never seen the Stones? Do it. You won't be disappointed.
"The Wall" played in its entirety in front of "The Wall" was an all-out assault on all your senses…in a good way. They probably didn't imagine this when they built it in 1912.
These shows would make the list just for being the first rock concerts at Fenway. But they earned their place on their own. The combination of Fenway's sacred baseball setting and Bruce's preaching the gospel of rock and roll produced all the feels and opened the door for the rest to come. And because it's a Boston law, Peter Wolf of the J. Geils Band joined them for "Dirty Water."
Kind of hard to deny this one: Two of Boston's most iconic bands in one of Boston's most iconic venues. At this point, it was a rarity for the J. Geils Band to reunite (alas, minus Stephen Jo Bladd) so the energy was turned to 11 on this one. If you had a bad time, were you really there?
Yes, they also played Fenway in 2018, and we all know a running Dave Grohl brings more fun than a sitting Dave Grohl. But something about the ridiculously awesome "throne" he sat on during these shows brought an extra layer of power, passion, energy, and downright rock and friggin ' roll. Plus, they upped the ante with openers Dropkick Murphys, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Mission of Burma, and Royal Blood.
Every Pearl Jam show is a cathartic experience. But these shows add layers of Eddie Vedder's baseball fandom. He was here in 2013 when Papi hit "that homerun" in the playoffs and he still gets goosebumps talking about it. These shows are like mini-tours with deep set-lists and guests (musicians and players) joining on-stage. Best Eddie Vedder line: "You're f**cking booing the Cubs?"
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Due to the 2020 global pandemic, only the band (in Red Sox jerseys) and crew were allowed on-site. It was webcast live and we were all glued to the TV. An empty park never had so much raw energy and provided so much hope.
I’m sure we forgot your favorite, so don’t be negative. Be positive. Tell us why your show rocked!